Self-aligning strand carrier for braiders



Jem. 31, 1933 G. E. HENNING 1,895,463

SELF ALIG'NING STRAND CARRIER FOR BRAIDERS Filed sept. 2, 19:51

1 f v w y u v uuu /NVENTUR YG. E. HENN/NG B 1 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 31,1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. HENNING, OF BALTIMORE,MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC d i COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 0F NEWYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SELF-ALIGNING STRAND Applicationfiled September This invention relates to braiding machines andparticularly to machines for continuously braiding the outside sheath orcovering onto insulated electrical conductors.

The object of this invention is to provide a high speed braiding machinehaving selfaligning carriers or supply holders for the braid strands orthreads, which will reduce the number of replacements caused by theexcessive wear, reduce the extremely accurate machining heretoforerequired, and maintain the carriers in proper alignment as they arerotated about the braiding center during the braiding operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier for the braidstrands with parts having bearing contact surfaces of comparativelyresilient materials adapted to reduce wear, reduce lubrication, andeliminate unnecessary weight and noise.

In attaining these objects the carriers are provided with a guidingcontact shoe of comparatively resilient fibrous material, al cooperatingroller of like material mounted for adjustment radially with respect tothe braiding center of the machine for the purpose of ne adjustment andto compensate for any wear at both the shoe and the roller, and aself-aligning driving shoe of like material mounted for free rotationabout its pivot.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood byreference to the following specification and accompanying drawing, inwhich Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a braiding machine embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawing the rotatable turret 1() is provided with a tubularmember 11 through which the electrical conductor 12 to be braidhavingone or more marginal slots or grooves 15 for passage of the braidstrands or threads CARRIER FOR BRAIDERS 2, 1931. Serial No. 560,729.

16 and at the opposite end a spiral gearl'?. The spiral gear 17 mesheswith the ring gear 18, which ring gear is held stationary or may bemounted to rotate with a second rotatable turret 19 in the oppositedirection from turret 10, so that rotary motion will beimparted to thespiral gear 17 and disk 14.

A track carrying casting 2O rotates with turret 19, the connectionthereto notl being shown, as it forms no part of the present invention,which has formed therein an annular track 21 in which a series of slots22 are formed at points therein adjacent the thread guide supports (notshown) for the braid strands or thread 16, as shown in Fig. 2. Theannular track 21 has a groove 23 extending from its outer surface aroundthe periphery thereof, in which an arcuate-shaped guiding contact shoe24 of suitable material, for example fibrous material, is slidablymounted. The arcuate-shaped shoe 24 has extending therefrom a braidstrand supply holder or cop 25 equipped with a paddle brake 26 of anysuitable type, which engages the surface of the cop to prevent backlashin the event that the machine is suddenly stopped and to maintain aconstant tension on a braid strand or thread being drawn from the cop.Secured to this arcuate-shaped.

guide shoe 24 is a supporting frame 27, which has adjustably securedtherein a fixed shaft 28 upon which is rotatably mounted a ball bearingdisk or thrust roller 29 adapted to engage the inner surface of theannular track member 21 when the carriers are rotated at high speedabout the annular track.

The shaft 28 has integral therewith an extended arm 30 and shaft 31 offset from` shaft 28 (Fig. 3) having freely pivoted thereon the slotteddriving shoe 32 of fibrous material, in which slot the slotted disk 14rotates. The disk 14, as it travels with turret 10 about the braidingcenter, carries with it, because of its connection with slotted shoe 32,the entire braid strand carrier or supply holder. The shoe 82 is free torotate about shaft 31 to compensate for any misalignment between itselfand disk 14 when the machine is started or stopped, or from anunbalanced condition. of the supply of strand material, and forms aself-aligning iexible connection so the shock or jarring caused byroller 29 passing over slots 22 Will be absorbed and not be imparted todisk la and its shaft 13. The supporting frame 27 is provided With anelongated or elliptical shaped aperture 33 passing therethrough, and atits under surface With a slot 34 as shown in Fig. 3. The diameter ofshaft 28 is slightly less than the smallest diameter of-aperture 33 andcan thus be moved radially with respect to the braiding center. The'tongue 35 of the bushing 3G, secured to or being integral with shaft 28,slides in slot 34 When shaft 28 is adjusted. The shaft 28 is adjustedradially With respect to the braiding center by loosening the nut 37 andadjusting the screw 38 threaded in the frame 27 and which bears againstfiat surface 39 of the shaft 28. The roller 29, carried by the shaft 28,is thus adjusted with respect to the annular track 2l by merelyadjusting screw 38, Which is held in adjusted position by lock nut 40.After the radial adjustment has been made the nut 37 of the shaft 28 isscrewed down, forcing the upper surface of bushing 3G against the lowersurface of the frame 27, securely holding the shaft 28 in position. Theroller 29 is provided with a ball bearing race 4l and a circular oilretainer 42. n The guide shoe 24, roller 29, and slotted shoe 32 areshown constructed entirely of iibrous material or the like, but it isunderstood that they may merely be provided with fibrous bearingsurfaces. This construction reduces noise and Wear, especially as theroller 29 rolls at high speed over the series of slots 22 in the annulartrack 21. This iibrous material is also comparatively resilient andgives as the roller rides over the slots 22, thus preventing Wear, anddoes not require theV same amount of lubrication as a metal roller wouldat the bearing surfaces. The adjustability of this roller through itsshaft eliminates the careful machining of the parts necessary if a fixedshaft is used. This adjustable shaft thus permits a micrometeradjustment of the roller 29 to properly position the same and for takingup any Wear sustained by the arcuate-shaped guide shoe 24 and roller 29after prolonged use.

While the invention is illustrated and described more particularly withreference to braiding machines for electrical conductors and the like,the invention is not confined thereto but is intended to cover any otheruses or modifications Within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a braiding machine, a guide track, a braid strand carrierrotatable around said track, and a guide roller carried by said carrierand engaging the inner surface of said track adapted to be`\adjustablymoved to- -Ward and away from the inner surface of said track.

2. In a braiding machine, a guide track, a braid strand carrier, a guideshoe on said carrier engaging the outer surface of said track, and anadjustable roller engaging the inner surface of said track adapted to beadjustably moved to and from said track.

3. In a braiding machine, a guide track having a continuous Igroove inthe outer surface thereof, a braid strand carrier, a guide shoe on saidcarrier engaging the groove in the outer surface of said track, and anadjustable rollerrengaging the inner surface of said track adapted to bemoved to and from said track to adjust the engagement of said guide shoerelative to said groove.

4. In a braiding machine, a guide track, a braid strand carrierrotatablearound said track, and a compensating thrust roller having acomparatively resilient bearing surface carried by said carrier andmeans whereby' carried by said frame, means for adjusting said shaft insaid frame, means for locking said shaft in adjusted position, and aguidiplgfthrust roller rotatably mounted on said s a t.

7. In a braiding machine, a braid strand carrier having a supportingframe, said frame having an-elongated aperture therein, a. shaftadjustably mounted -With said aperture, and a guiding thrust rollercarried by said shaft.

8. In a braiding machine, a braid strand carrier having a supportingframe, said frame having an elongated aperture therein, a shaftadjustably mounted Within said aperture, means for adjusting and lockingsaid shaft Within said aperture, and a guiding thrust roller carried bysaid shaft.

9. In a braiding machine, a braid strand carrier having a supportingframe, said frame, having an elongated aperture extending therethroughand a communicating slot, a shaft adjustably mounted Within saidaperture, a tongue on said shaft slidable in said slot to preventrotation of said shaft, and a roller rotatably mounted on said shaft.

10. In a braiding machine a braid strand carrier having a supportingframe, an adjustable shaft carried by said frame having an extension, aroller on said shaft, and a shoe pivoted on said extension.

11. In a. braiding machine, a braid strand carrier .having a frame, anadjustable shaft carried by said frame having an off-set eX- tension, aroller. on said shaft, and a slotted fibre shoe pivoted on said off-setextension.

12. In a braiding machine, a guide track having a continuous groove inthe outer surface thereof, a braid strand carrier, a fibrous guide shoeon said carrier engaging the groove in the outer surface of said track,a fibrous adjustable roller engaging the inner surface of said track andadapted to be moved toward and away from said guide shoe, and a fibrousslotted shoe pivoted eccentrically With respect t0 the center line ofsaid shaft for moving said carrier around said track.

13. In a braiding machine, a braid strand carrier having a. supportingframe, a shaft carried by said frame, a roller on said shaft, and aself-aligning driving shoe carried by said shaft.

14. In a braiding machine, a guide track, a braid strand carrier adaptedto be rotated around said track, a shaft carried by said carrier, aguide roller on said shaft, a pivoted self-aligning driving shoe carriedby said shaft, and means contacting with said shoe for moving saidcarrier around said track.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this Qtth day ofAugust, 1931.

GEORGE E. HENNING.

